Trump orders federal agencies to drop Anthropic’s AI | The Verge
Summary
Donald Trump has ordered federal agencies to stop using Anthropic's AI technology after the company refused to allow its use for military purposes, citing ethical concerns.
Why It Matters
This decision highlights the ongoing tension between AI companies and government military applications, raising critical questions about the ethical use of AI in warfare and national security. It reflects broader concerns about the implications of AI technology on democratic values and military operations.
Key Takeaways
- Trump's directive halts the use of Anthropic's AI by federal agencies.
- Anthropic's refusal to comply with military demands raises ethical concerns.
- The situation underscores the conflict between tech companies and government military interests.
PolicyAINewsTrump orders federal agencies to drop Anthropic’s AIAnthropic has refused to agree to the Pentagon’s demand to allow ‘any lawful use’ of its AI.Anthropic has refused to agree to the Pentagon’s demand to allow ‘any lawful use’ of its AI.by Hayden Field and Richard LawlerFeb 27, 2026, 9:30 PM UTCLinkShareGiftImage: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty ImagesPart OfAI vs. the Pentagon: killer robots, mass surveillance, and red linessee all updates On Friday afternoon, Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, accusing Anthropic, the AI company behind Claude, of attempting to “STRONG-ARM” the Pentagon and directing federal agencies to “IMMEDIATELY CEASE” use of its products. At issue is Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei’s refusal of an updated agreement with the US military agreeing to “any lawful use” of Anthropic’s technology, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth mandated in a January memo, to the frustration of many tech workers across the industry.As we explained earlier this week, that agreement would give the US military access to use the company’s services for mass domestic surveillance and lethal autonomous weapons, or AI that has full power to track and kill targets with no humans involved in the decision-making process. OpenAI and xAI have reportedly already agreed to the new terms, though OpenAI is reportedly looking to negotiate with the Pentagon to adopt the same red lines as Anthropic.RelatedWe don’t have to have unsupervised killer robotsFor weeks, Anthropic and the Pe...
